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Chapter 474: An extremely powerful minister
"Master, you see, this isn't my fault, is it? Anyone would find it strange! In the past, if someone was willing to pay, someone would be willing to catch it. Now, it's not like we're not willing to pay, so why can't we even ask? Are you afraid we can't afford to pay and will default on the debt?" Zhu Yu muttered to Lu Qing with a wronged expression, her voice just loud enough for the shopkeeper to hear.

The shopkeeper was afraid that his apprentice's words might have touched on the heart of the distinguished guest and caused some misunderstanding, so he quickly waved his hand and said, "No, no, it's just that I'm worried that the distinguished guest can't afford it."

"Look at all we have here! How could I possibly worry that you can't afford it!"

Lu Qing looked in the direction he was pointing and saw the wooden boxes placed to the side. They contained rare medicinal herbs that were hard to find outside of the Brahma Land, and they cost him two brocade pouches and dozens of gold seeds.

He smiled slightly, remaining silent, neither reprimanding the "little apprentice" behind him nor affirming the shopkeeper's words.

Seeing his reaction, the shopkeeper quickly added, "We've only said half of what we were saying. There's more to it that I haven't had time to say yet."

Back when those people went to capture the Jade Snowbird, none of us knew who the buyer behind it was or why they were so wealthy. Later, rumors gradually spread that the person who paid a large sum of money to capture the Jade Snowbird for them was actually the old wizard's eldest disciple.

Originally, the eldest disciple was the old wizard's most valued disciple, and he was determined to pass on the entire sect to him so that he could inherit his mantle. However, he did not expect that his eldest disciple was too ambitious and looked down on his sect. He was also unwilling to stay in the Brahma Kingdom.

He ran away to the Kingdom of Jin without his master's knowledge, and it's said that he became very close to one of the princes of Jin, though it's unclear at the time.

That eldest disciple was incredibly talented back then. He was knowledgeable in astronomy and geography, and also quite skilled in formations. He ran away to Jin Kingdom behind his master's back, and I heard that he quickly made military achievements, was highly regarded, and became a high-ranking official in no time.

Later, he suddenly ran back with a lot of gold and found some people to help him find manpower to capture the Jade Snowbird. Later, the old witch doctor found out about this and ordered his apprentice to capture him and tell him not to have any more ideas about the Jade Snowbird. He said that the thing was too vicious and that it would be against the natural order for anyone to use it.

The eldest disciple was at the height of his power and couldn't listen to any of this, but he still promised his master that this was the only time and he would never touch this stuff again.

As a result, he disappeared without a trace. After a long time, the old witch doctor overheard that someone in the black market was offering a large sum of money for the Jade Snowbird. He sent someone to inquire, and it turned out that his eldest disciple had secretly slipped back.

The old witch doctor called his eldest disciple back and reprimanded him, but this time the disciple was even more disobedient. He didn't even bother to appease his master, and kept saying that his master didn't understand. He said that he couldn't stop now, that he was only one step away from becoming a high-ranking official, and that he had to take the plunge no matter what.

In a fit of anger, the old witch doctor scolded his eldest disciple and threatened to expel him from the sect.

I heard that things got very tense at the time. The old witch doctor's other apprentices tried their best to mediate between their master and senior brother, plead for their senior brother, and persuade him to back down. But neither side was willing to give an inch. In the end, the old witch doctor got so angry that he ordered his apprentices to beat the eldest disciple out of the house.

His eldest disciple left in a rather disheveled state, after all, everyone on the street had seen him being forced out of the capital step by step by his junior brothers, and anyone would have lost face in that situation.

Before leaving, he said he was certain he would rise above others and attain a high position, showing his master who was truly short-sighted.

"Did that eldest disciple rise to the highest ranks of officialdom?" Zhu Yu asked curiously. The shopkeeper smiled and shook his head: "I don't know. No one has heard of that eldest disciple since. Although everyone is curious about it in private, no one dares to go out and inquire, so I can't answer that question."

"Don't you dare ask?" Lu Qing raised an eyebrow. "I didn't expect that an old witch doctor could make you so wary?"

"That old witch doctor himself isn't anything to be afraid of." The shopkeeper quickly waved his hand. "Honorable guest, you don't know, but that old witch doctor's second apprentice is now quite something. He's the High Priest of our Brahma Kingdom, and he's highly regarded by our king!"

“High Priest, oh, I’ve heard of him. I’ve heard that your High Priest is also skilled in astrology and divination, and is a very powerful figure.” Lu Qing nodded knowingly.

"That's right!" the shopkeeper sighed. "That's why I say, life is unpredictable."

Back then, the High Priest wasn't as outstanding as the eldest disciple in the sect. If that eldest disciple hadn't gone to Jin Kingdom and committed the sect's greatest taboo, being expelled, the High Priest position might be held by someone else now...

But that person was insatiable, wanting to attain the highest rank in the court, and now there's not even a trace of him...

However, this is actually a good thing for our Brahma Kingdom. If such a person were to become the High Priest, we would never have a good life. Who knows what terrible things he might do!

"So it seems your current high priest is a decent person?" Lu Qing asked casually.

The shopkeeper immediately nodded: "Of course. Our high priest is not only very capable, but he is also the disciple who listens to his master the most."

Since he became the High Priest of Brahma, he has forbidden the people of Brahma's territory from using any evil witchcraft or potions.

Not only that, he also frequently held altars to worship the heavens and pray for the people of Brahma. We have all been there to see it, and his demeanor was truly unmatched by ordinary people!

"What a pity you've come at the wrong time. The High Priest is in seclusion; otherwise, you would have been able to witness his sacrificial prayers and blessings!"

"In that case, although we lost our most valued disciple, our second disciple became the High Priest of the Brahma Kingdom and is highly regarded by your Brahma King. That is enough to bring honor to our sect. This old witch doctor is indeed quite capable, having taught so many good disciples." Lu Qing asked, "Since we are unable to meet the High Priest, do you know if we have the opportunity to visit this old witch doctor or his disciples?"

"Ah...this...I'm afraid that's difficult too..." The shopkeeper sighed. "Not long after the eldest disciple was expelled, the old witch doctor's apprentices started fighting amongst themselves and then fell apart. Not long after that, the old witch doctor also passed away due to the successive blows he suffered."

Now, apart from the high priest, all his other disciples have scattered to who knows where.